At the time that the Crim 10-miler was starting up in Flint this morning on a Crim-typical August HHH day, I was at the local metropark starting out on what would be a 30-mile bike ride. This would have been my 10th Crim in a row, too -- the only unbroken streak for me since I started running seriously 10 years ago. But I am sure that I'll be back there on the starting line (actually about a block back from the starting line!) in 2009! My retirement luncheon on Thursday was way more than I expected: almost embarassing the way some people layed it on. The main gift was a Garmin Edge 705 (biking GPS) with all the bells and whistles, which couldn't have been a better choice. This thing is so cool that I wish I could find a way to wear it on my wrist and run with it, but I guess I'm stuck with the Forerunner for that job. Good running, everyone! Enjoy the last few days before Labor Day weekend changes it all.

Wow, I'm watching the men's marathon, and they sure are keeping a fast pace for a hot day! Cool and cloudy here, and I went out with my fuzzy running buddies for 4 miles at just over 11 minute pace, which is fast for me on the hills here. Long run planned tomorrow. Wonderful picture of Hally, Mari, and the Beers! How do you ladies walk in heels that high? After all those beers?

Arghhh! Peter!!! I knew I shouldn't have been browsing around here during the race. We're just 48 minutes into it and still hoping Ryan has a plan to blast out of 24th place!!! Always cool to see a good race, but I was sure hoping Ryan could come through for us. My race today was a total disappointment. Well, ok, not total. I had a good time with some folks I'm getting to be really good friends with, so that's cool. But I was disappointed that for taking it easy yesterday (pool running and weights), my foot was sore this morning when I got up. And it got worse. I had to stop three times during the race to flex my foot and stretch it out, really wanted to take off my shoes and rub it but that would've really toasted my time. So, I kept on, and crossed the finish line in 22:20... what?? Ok, next issue, everyone's Garmin was measuring the course really short. Mine said 2.75 miles, most people's said 2.75 to 2.83... general consensus is it was .3 to .4 mile short. Rats... would've been quite a stunt to pull off a 10 second PR on a very hilly trail course with a few stops in there! Heh, not quite. I got 2nd in my age group and that's because the gal who got first had a birthday in July and is now 45 (who said she could do that??). So, it was an interesting day, to say the least. I was going to run a couple miles afterwards to get my miles in for the day, but decided against it. Watered the garden and swept part of the garage instead. Icing my foot now, and a couple glasses of wine are helping. Tomorrow I'm still planning on running long, but "long" will be 12-14 miles this week.

Sheesh, trying to catch up with the dailies by speed-reading after three days away. Great photo of the ladies (plus that guy who keeps popping up next to PDR); I hear the appropriately named wildchild is running topless; Holly says she is losing weight on her back; and of course we have some incredible runs by the usual suspects. Speaking of dumb Olympic interviewers, like the guy who asked how it felt to drop the baton: I was reminded of the one time in my life I was interviewed by a TV reporter with a camera crew. I was playing board 3 or 4 on the Harvard University chess team in the Pan-American Chess Championship. It was the last round, and I had just lost my game, which cost Harvard the chess championship of the Western Hemisphere. I was sick as a dog with a heavy cold, but no one cut me any slack for that: it was a team event and I had to play. So after losing badly to some guy from NYU I would have beat on a better day, I stumbled out of the tournament hall, dazed and chagrined, and this reporter grabbed me, and asked me on camera, "Is this the biggest game you have ever lost?" I thought for a few moments, and replied, "So far." Dark Horse